Lancashire businessmen recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours

Lancashire residents were among those receiving recognition in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Majid Hussain, executive director at Accrol Papers, received and MBE for services to business and the community in the North West of England.

Since joining the family firm in 2009 he has built the business into the largest wholly-owned British company producing tissue paper and kitchen roll and the fourth largest soft tissue converter in the UK, against strong competition from multi-national businesses.

Under his leadership, sales have increased three-fold to almost £75m and employee numbers have increased by almost 200. His contribution to the North West economy has been recognised through a number of awards, including: IoD Director of the Year for the North West (2013) and Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Manufacturing in the North of England (2013).

He is a founder patron of Blackburn Youth Zone, which was established to help with the development of young people. Through the Youth Zone, he is driving forward a mini Dragons’ Den initiative to invest in new ideas put forward by members - providing backing to projects which otherwise would find it difficult to obtain support.

He also jointly led the raising of £45,000 for the Asian tsunami and £140,000 for the earthquake in South Asia.

In addition, John Ward, a consultant with the wills and estate planning team at Napthens solicitors, will receive an OBE for his services to the charitable and voluntary sector in Lancashire.

The father of three, who lives in Broughton with his wife Helen, works with a number of good causes in Lancashire including as chair of trustees for Galloway’s Society for the Blind in Penwortham, and as a trustee for Preston-based Deafway.

The legal expert recently retired as trustee of Derian House Children’s Hospice in Chorley, and is chair of the Harris Museum and Art Gallery Endowment Trust.

He has also acted as clerk of the select vestry of the Parish of Preston for around 30 years, and was a senior burgess during the recent Guild celebrations in Preston. David Rogers, founder of Every Action has Consequences, earns an MBE for services to young people and prisoner rehabilitation.